Meiosis - nuclear division to produce haploid gametes Diploid full number of chromosomes in a somatic (body) cell Haploid half

lf the chromosome number, found in gametes Homologous chromosomes from each parent carrying the gene for the same characteristic, eg eye colour, blood group REMEMBER YOUR CHROMOSOMES ARE IN PAIRS 1 OF EACH PAIR COMES FROM EACH PARENT CARRYING ALLELES OF THE SAME CARACTERISTIC

Meiosis and genetic variation a lesson in 2 parts!

Explain

why is meiosis necessary for sexual reproduction? Describe the stages of meiosis

MITOSIS: produces two daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes ie: 2 DIPLOID cells

MEIOSIS: produces four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell ie: 4 HAPLOID cells

Chromosome number
A human somatic (body) cell contains 46 chromosomes. These consist of 23 pairs of homologous chromosomes. Each pair contains one chromosome from each parent. Other species have different numbers of these homologous pairs.

Sex cells, or gametes, have only one copy of each chromosome: they are haploid. A somatic cell, containing two of each, is called diploid.
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Haploid gametes
All somatic cells in a multicellular organism are genetically identical because they are the result of mitosis. They are all descended from a single cell a zygote. A zygote is formed when two haploid gametes fuse. These gametes are genetically unique because, unlike somatic cells, they were formed by a special form of cell division called meiosis.

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Sexual reproduction: fusion of two gametes which produce new offspring with a full set of chromosomes (DIPLOID). Humans 46 chromosomes If diploid cells fused, this would double the number of chromosomes in the new organism at each generation To maintain constant number of chromosomes in adults there needs to be a process of halving

DIPLOID organisms have two sets of parental chromosomes one from each parent Humans 22 chromosomes and one sex chromosome from each parent At fertilisation, the two HAPLOID gametes fuse resulting a DIPLOID offspring with the full number of chromosomes

Meiosis I and II
Meiosis is the process of cell division underlying sexual reproduction. It is a two-stage process:

Meiosis I introduces genetic diversity by randomly dividing a cells genes in two. It results in two haploid cells.

Meiosis II is similar to mitosis. It splits each chromosome into its two chromatids and places one in each daughter cell. It results in four haploid gametes.

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Meiosis

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The first nuclear division has homologous chromosomes pairing up In the second, the chromatids move apart
So at the end there are 4 cells The genes from your parents have been randomly dealt between the gametes they formed just like a randomly shuffled and dealt pack of 46 cards Your 46 chromosomes are randomly distributed amongst the gametes you have produced

Use this over view to refer to as we go along you can annotate this if it makes it easier

https://highered.mcgrawhill.com/sites/0072495855/student_view0/cha pter28/animation__stages_of_meiosis.html

Nuclear envelope disintegrates Chromosomes condense Spindles extend from the centromeres

Homologous chromosomes pair up Crossing over may occur (more later!!)

Tetrads (4 chromosomes) move half way between poles Spindle fibres attach to each centromere

Cell begins to lengthen The two homologs of each chromosome pair move toward opposite poles

Complete set of haploid chromosomes at each pole BUT each pole has sister chromatids Cell starts to cleave CYTOKINESIS occurs at the end of this stage and the cell enters a stage of INTERKINESIS This is the end of MEIOSIS I

IPMAT

Centromeres attach to spindles from OPPOSITE poles This will separate the pairs of chromatids

During anaphase II the sister chromatids of each chromosome separate and move toward opposite poles

 The chromosomes reach opposite poles, cytokinesis occurs, the two cells produced by meiosis I divide to form four haploid daughter cells, and nuclear envelopes (white in the diagram) form. Meiosis is now complete.

How many daughter cells are produced by meiosis? How many chromosomes do they have in relation to the parent cell? A cell has 27 chromosomes. Is it haploid or diploid? Mules a crosses between horses ( 64 chromosomes) and donkeys ( 62). Whay are mules sterile? Thoughts Why do eukaryotes have this process? What are the advantages of sexual reproduction?

NEXT LESSON: please read up on Genetic variation as a result of meiosis and new genetic variations.. ( pages 141 143)